What is an employer statement?

When you apply for a rental home in the Netherlands, a landlord will often want to understand not only how much you earn, but also how stable your employment is.

Why do landlords ask for it?

The main reason is to get a clear, standardised picture of your actual income. Your employment contract may not include every part of your pay. Payslips can be difficult to interpret, vary from month to month, or may not be available yet if you have recently started a new job.

An employer statement breaks your income down line by line. This lets a landlord or real estate agent understand how much you really earn without piecing the information together from several documents.

It also shows how stable that income is by confirming your contract type and, when relevant, whether your employer intends to renew it.

Is an employer statement always required for rentals?

No. Dutch law does not require an employer statement for every rental application. In practice, however, if you are employed in the Netherlands, landlords and agencies will almost always ask for one.

If you do not work for a Dutch company, an employer statement is not required.

What information does it contain?

An employer statement normally includes:

• your employer's name, address, and contact details;
• your name, position, and employment start date;
• whether your contract is permanent, temporary, or flexible;
• the end date of a temporary contract;
• your gross salary and fixed income components, such as holiday allowance or a thirteenth month;
• whether the employer intends to continue your employment after a temporary contract ends;
• the name and signature of the person completing the statement.

Employer statement vs employment contract

An employer statement is not a replacement for your employment contract. Your contract contains the legal agreements between you and your employer. The employer statement is a short, up-to-date summary created for a third party that needs to verify your employment and income.

How do I get one?

Ask your HR or payroll department for an employer statement for a rental application. Many Dutch employers already have their own standard form.

If your employer does not have one, send them one of these templates:

• Dutch employer statement template
• English employer statement template

Your employer should complete and sign the statement. Do not fill it in or sign it on your employer's behalf.

What if I cannot get one?

If your employer is Dutch, ask them to provide an employer statement. Employers are not legally required to provide one. However, they should have a good reason to refuse, so in practice employers usually provide it.

If your employer is not Dutch, an employer statement is not required.

How do I add it to Uprent?

Complete your Uprent profile. We will ask you a few questions about your employment and income to understand which documents you need.

If an employer statement is required in your situation, you can upload it directly to your profile.